Container used for dispensing solid and liquid food items

ABSTRACT

A collection of containers for dispensing food stuffs. This multi-compartmental dispenser comprises a liquid dispenser which doubles as a handle. The design is such that a small child can hold onto the handle while sipping liquids from the handle/straw.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. provisional application61/608,225 filed 8 Mar. 2012; entitled “Sippy Snack Cup”. The entirecontents being hereby incorporated by reference and for which benefit ofthe priority date is claimed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to food packaging and dispensing. Morespecifically, the present invention relates to multi-compartment foodpackages wherein one of the compartments comprises a liquid dispenserwhich doubles as a handle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Most combination cups for carrying drinks and snack foods are bulky andhard for the child to hold. Children are also prone to tipping theirdrinks and require safeguards to keep liquids and snacks from spillingout on to adjacent surfaces.

Also holding a container while accessing it is hard for a child who hassmall hands not adapted for fitting around a container.

It is also easy to lose a straw which is separated from the cup.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a hand held container having at least twocompartments wherein at least one compartment stores a liquid. Thecompartment which stores the liquid is also in communication with theentry to a cannula or straw which is formed inside the handle. It iseasy to use as a child can hold the container in one hand and easilymanipulate the handle which doubles as a straw which is held in one handup to the mouth for sipping. Having the straw double as the handle isadvantageous as it can fit easily in to a small child's hand.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a cup havingthe handle also serve as a cannula or straw.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a multi foodcontainer which can easily be carried and manipulated by a small child'shands.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a multi foodcontainer which does not easily spill the contents.

It is another object of the invention that this structure to provideimproved ergonomics for a multi food container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained byreference to the accompanying drawings, when considered in conjunctionwith the subsequent, detailed description, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical embodiment of a food containerwherein the dispenser forms a handle for the container;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an alternate embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of a first embodiment of a base member;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of an alternate embodiment of a basemember.

FIG. 6 is another embodiment of the invention that includes two handles

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Elements of the invention:

-   10—sippy snack cup™-   12—lid member-   14—first compartment-   16—second compartment-   18—access portal-   20—lip-   22—interface-   24—sidewall-   26—seal-   28—interface-   30—latch member-   32—catch member-   34—flooring-   36—sidewall-   38—base flooring 38A—alternate inclined base-   40—handle member-   42—orifice-   44—male threaded member-   46—female threaded member-   48—cannula-   50—support member-   52—extended portion-   54—second handle

FIGS. 1 through 3 depict two embodiments of the present invention beinga sippy snack cup™ comprising a lid member being associated with a firstcompartment by means of a latch member and catch member in oneembodiment or, alternatively, a male and female threaded member. The lidmember may comprise an access portal, generally comprising flexibleplastic flaps, for accessing the first compartment without having toremove the lid. The lid member can be made of other flexible material.The lid member can be spill proof. One or more interface(s) may bedeployed in order to nest the compartments together.

Optionally a seal such as a gasket, o-ring, flap or the like, can bedeployed to aid in retention of liquids.

In this instance, the compartments are comprised of sidewalls andflooring or base flooring members in order to provide a volume forretaining materials, such as food stuffs or the like. As known to thoseskilled in the art, a floor member of one compartment may also form anenclosure for an adjacent compartment.

A handle member which can optionally comprise one or more supportmember(s) is formed having a cannula for the carrying of a liquid.Further an extended portion can be provided for providing easier accessto the orifice above a first compartment by the user.

As shown in FIG. 5, the floor member can also comprise an alternateinclined base. The inclined base being adapted for the gravity aidedflow of liquids toward the entry to the cannula.

The invention is used by providing food stuffs to the first and secondcompartments. Preferably the compartment having the cannula is providedwith a liquid substance which is then sucked through the orifice.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

Although the present invention has been described in detail, thoseskilled in the art will understand that various changes, substitutions,and alterations herein may be made without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention in its broadest form. The invention is notconsidered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, andcovers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departuresfrom the true spirit and scope of this invention.

For example, although the foregoing refers to two compartments, it iscontemplated that the embodiment can comprise more than twocompartments. Further, dimensional, coupling, and sealing details mayvary from embodiment to embodiment in terms of dimensions and exactposition of handle and compartmental structural members, depending onthe physical arrangement of the structural members, as well as the needsof the user.

Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected byLetters Patent is presented in the subsequent appended claims.

We claim:
 1. A food container comprising multiple compartments whereinat least one edible substance is in the form of a liquid and comprisingthe following: (i) a container comprising at least two separatedcompartments, each compartment having a portal thereto for access toeach said compartment; (ii) a dispenser having an inlet portion and anoutlet portion; (iii) at least one of the compartments suited forreceiving and holding a liquid, said liquid holding compartment being incommunication with the inlet portion of the dispenser; (iv) and thedispenser forming a handle for the container between the inlet portionand the outlet portion of the dispenser.
 2. The food container inaccordance with claim 1 wherein the food dispenser is a straw.
 3. Thefood container in accordance with claim 2 wherein at least one of thecompartments is suited for receiving and holding solid food.
 4. The foodcontainer in accordance with claim 3 wherein the compartment suited forreceiving and holding food comprises a lid.
 5. The food container inaccordance with claim 4 wherein the lid has at least one slit allowing ahand to grab the contents.
 6. The food container in accordance withclaim 1 wherein the two compartments have a seal in-between thecompartments.
 7. The food container in accordance with claim 6 whereinthe seal comprises one of the group consisting of a gasket, an o-ring,and a flap.
 8. The food container in accordance with claim 1 wherein thecontainer has at least one handle.
 9. The food container in accordancewith claim 1 wherein the at least one handle is at least two handles.10. A method of dispensing beverages and food items consisting of: (i)Placing the beverage and food items in the same container (ii) Whereinthe container has at least two separated compartments, each compartmenthaving a portal thereto for access to each said compartment; (iii) adispenser having an inlet portion and an outlet portion; (iv) and thedispenser forming a handle for the container between the inlet portionand the outlet portion of the dispenser.
 11. The method of dispensingbeverages and food items of claim 9, wherein the beverage dispenser is astraw.
 12. The method of dispensing beverages and food items of claim 9,wherein the straw is connected to the bottom of at least one of theseparate containers
 13. The method of dispensing beverages and fooditems of claim 9, wherein the at least two separate containers are ontop of each other.
 14. The method of dispensing beverages and food itemsof claim 9, wherein the compartment suited for receiving and holdingfood comprises a lid.
 15. The method of dispensing beverages and fooditems of claim 13, wherein the lid has at least one slit allowing a handto grab the contents.